Summary: The Importance Of Sociology

Sociology, it’s Importance, and my Sociological Process

Sociologists believe that individuals are shaped depending on their interactions with those around them. It’s a lifelong process depending on their economic class, education, orientation, that individuals go through into adulthood. Sociology helps people realize their place in life and how to interact with society. For me, as a growing individual, I have connected and made relationships with those around me who share the same interests and traits: lasting relationships I made with my volleyball team, my church, and my high school friends. They helped me make important decisions, like which university to attend. (1)

Theories of Self-Development

Jean Piaget was a psychologist who specialized

He believed personality continues to grow over time and never stops changing. Ultimately, personality goes through 8 stages of development from birth until death. While Freud focused on the psychosexual stages of growth, Erikson gave more importance to social aspects of growth, for example how individuals negotiate between their desires versus what is social acceptable.

I personally agree more with Erikson’s theory of self-development. As a young woman, I am always learning new things from those around me, outside of academics. I do not believe that women belong in the household, and I do not believe that society teaches what is good and what is bad. Society sets a standard for what is or isn’t moral, but individuals themselves interpret what is good and bad as they grow up. I specifically agree with Erikson’s idea that personality is ever-changing, as people learn new things they understand more about the world. (1)

Socializing and Institutional Agents in the Socialization

Everyone reports to someone higher up in status or rank. Whether this be an individual you report to, or an office that is placed in charge of another office. Typically, the lower ranks have more individuals, for example the number of Walmart cashiers versus Walmart managers. This leads into bureaucracies also have a clear division labor. Teachers teach lessons, janitors keep the school clean, cafeteria ladies oversee food. Tying back into authority, each labor division also has someone managing them. Formal organizations have explicit rules that individuals must adhere to. They are an outline, or a guideline created to keep order and increase efficiency. Finally, bureaucracies and formal organizations are impersonal. They keep things professional and try to take personal feelings out of situations that don’t call for them to, again, increase efficiency.